ure. With tears in his eyes at the thought of
this resolute soul rejecting salvation, the venerable Pedro Arbuez
d'Espila, approaching the shuddering rabbi, addressed him as follows:

"My son, rejoice: your trials here below are about to end. If in the
presence of such obstinacy I was forced to permit, with deep regret, the
use of great severity, my task of fraternal correction has its limits.
You are the fig tree which, having failed so many times to bear fruit,
at last withered, but God alone can judge your soul. Perhaps Infinite
Mercy will shine upon you at the last moment! We must hope so. There are
examples. So sleep in peace to-night. To-morrow you will be included in
the _auto da fe_: that is, you will be exposed to the _quema-dero_, the
symbolical flames of the Everlasting Fire: It burns, as you know, only
at a distance, my son; and Death is at least two hours (often three) in
coming, on account of the wet, iced bandages, with which we protect the
heads and hearts of the condemned. There will be forty-three of you.
Placed in the last row, you will have time to invoke God and offer to
Him this baptism of fire, which is of the Holy Spirit. Hope in the
Light, and rest."

With these words, having signed to his companions to unchain the
prisoner, the prior tenderly embraced him. Then came the turn of the
_fra redemptor_, who, in a low tone, entreated the Jew's forgiveness for
what he had made him suffer for the purpose of redeeming him; then the
two familiars silently kissed him. This ceremony over, the captive was
left, solitary and bewildered, in the darkness.

* * * * *

Rabbi Aser Abarbanel, with parched lips and visage worn by suffering, at
first gazed at the closed door with vacant eyes. Closed? The word
unconsciously roused a vague fancy in his mind, the fancy that he had
seen for an instant the light of the lanterns through a chink between
the door and the wall. A morbid idea of hope, due to the weakness of his
brain, stirred his whole being. He dragged himself toward the strange
_appearance_. Then, very gently and cautiously, slipping one finger into
the crevice, he drew the door toward him. Marvellous! By an
extraordinary accident the familiar who closed it had turned the huge
key an instant before it struck the stone casing, so that the rusty bolt
not having entered the hole, the door again rolled on its hinges.

The rabbi ventured to glance outside. By the aid of a sort